Basic Training: Physical Fitness Centers at Fort Bragg

Thursday

Nov 2, 2017 at 11:37 AM

Alyson Hansen PhotogAlyHansen

Looking for a place to get those gains? Fort Bragg has several physical fitness centers that all Department of Defense card holders can use for free! Disclaimer: Some of the PFCs do have classes that may require a small fee. The gym system, run by Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, is a low-cost, easy-to-access way to work out. There are a couple of rules to know before you head off to a physical fitness center.1. Workout bags aren’t allowed in exercise areas. You have to leave your bags in the locker rooms. Bringing a workout bag into the gym area can impede walkways and accessibility to exits. 2. There is a bit of a dress code. No clothing with obscene, slanderous or vulgar words is allowed. No gang affiliated clothing is allowed. An item of clothing that is supposed to be an undergarment cannot be worn as an outer garment (think sports bras). Shoes must be worn at all times except in areas where it is acceptable to not have footwear, like the pool. And finally, distinctive military uniforms worn by unathorized people or mixed with civilian clothing also isn’t allowed. 3. Strollers aren’t allowed in the workout area. A child has to be under direct supervision of a non-participating parent at all times. Children cannot be left unattended. For information about hourly care for children while at the gym, visit the Child Youth Services Hourly Care website at https://bragg.armymwr.com/programs/hourly-care.Now that we have gone through the rules, let’s get to the good stuff: the physical fitness centers themselves and where to find them. There are 14 PFCs at Fort Bragg, but I’m only going to cover a few. For a full list of PFCs and hours, please visit https://bragg.armymwr.com/programs/fitness-centers.Frederick Performance Enhancement CenterFredrick is a place where you can go work on plyometrics, agility training and suspension training. It is located on Gruber Road, and is open Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fredrick is closed on holidays. Hercules PFCAlso boasting a juice bar, Hercules is located on Armistead Street and is open Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday, Sunday and federal holidays, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. With a sauna, basketball courts and fitness classes, Hercules has a little something for everyone. Ritz Epps PFCRitz-Epps is in the middle of the 82nd Airborne Division’s footprint at Bragg, located on Champion Main Road. Ritz-Epps also has a juice bar and a sauna, as well as free weights and basketball and racquetball courts. It is open Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and training holidays from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tucker Performance Enhancement CenterTucker is home to a pool and the recently installed Alpha Warrior Training Rig (for more information, see www.paraglideonline.net/news/20171026/alpha-warrior).Tucker is open Monday through Friday, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays and federal holidays, noon to 7 p.m. and training holdiays from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.For more up-to-date info on when gyms are open during inclement weather, follow the Fort Bragg Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fortbraggnc.